Significance of tertiary Gleason pattern 5

Posted by tstump12 @tstump12, Dec 14, 2023

I had a prostatectomy 4 months ago. The pathology was Gleason 4+3 with a tertiary Gleason pattern 5. Perineural invasion was present. pT Category: pT2x: Organ confined except in the region of positive margin, where extra prostatic extension cannot
be evaluated. If I am reading this correctly, not all the cancer was removed and I have a high probability that I am not cured even though my first PSA was < .05. Getting straight answers about what all this means is difficult. Anyone with a similar situation?

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tstump12 | @tstump12 | Dec 18, 2023

I guess I just assumed my oncologist would give me all the information I needed. After googling the pathology report, since it is next to impossible to understand it otherwise, I realized I might be in some real trouble. I never got that sense from the oncologist. At my next appointment, I intend to question him on all the troubling aspects of the report. I believe since he did not get good margins, he might be reluctant to discuss it but I need to know exactly what I am facing.
Thanks for your reply.